Why Are We Starting Solids?

One of the biggest concerns parents have when starting solids is if their baby is eating enough. In order to answer this question we need to understand why we are starting solids in the first place. The reason we introduce solids is not to fill up their bellies, but to teach them about mealtimes,how to eat and expose them to a wide variety of textures, flavors, allergen foods, and balanced meals so they can eat just like us along with us.

Here are some other important points to remember when starting solids:

1- Milk stays the primary source of nutrition for the first year- but adding solids helps complement the extra nutrients babies start needing at 6 months.

2- Introducing high allergen foods between the age of 6-12 months has shown to reduce the risk of allergies.

3- Exposing them to a variety of different flavors and tastes between 6-12 months will help expand their taste palette and lead them to be less fussy/picky eaters.

4- Introducing solids during this period will allow them to slowly understand that food is related to hunger and not milk and this will help them transition to full meals and milk just being complementary.

5- Introducing solids during this period will allow their body to slowly learn to digest foods and learn to use it for optimal growth and help diversify their gut bacteria

6- By learning to eat- they develop a lot of physical skills- pincer grasp, learning to chew and hand- eye coordination.

Introducing the right foods at the right time when your baby is developmentally ready is key to ensuring they are able to maximise the benefits of the foods they are eating.